Needles (Live) — System Of A Down1 / 2
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Needles (Live) Riff Guitar Tone Settings — System Of A Down

System Of A Down · 2000s · metal

live

Original Recording

Guitar
Ibanez Iceman IC300
Pickups
Ibanez Super 58 humbuckers
Amp
Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier
Pickup Position
Bridge pickup

Settings are for live performance; year: 2002

Amp Settings

Mids
5
Bass
6
Gain
8
Reverb
0.5
Treble
7
Presence
6

Effects Chain

  • Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer · overdrive
  • Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor · noise_gate

Guitar → Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer → Boss NS-2 Noise Suppressor → Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier

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Tone Character

  • tight palm-muted chugs
  • aggressive bridge pickup tone
  • scooped mids
  • high-gain saturation
  • percussive attack

Notes & Caveats

  • ⚠️Specific pedal models and exact amp settings are not publicly documented; settings are estimated based on typical gear used by the artist and genre conventions.
  • ⚠️Settings cross-referenced with genre and era conventions for accuracy. System Of A Down's live tone for 'Needles' features a high-gain, modern metal sound with a balanced EQ to cut through the mix while maintaining clarity. The slight reverb is typical for live settings to add a touch of space without muddying the tone.

Sources